NLFF was launched 6-7 May 2017 by the film collective RåFILM, Malmö in collaboration with ABF, Byggnadsarbetarförbundet, Elektikerförbundet, Filmcentrum Syd and Emmaus Björkå. The festival takes place at Folk Bio Panora in Malmö and is supported by the Labor Movement Culture Fund.

As part of a growing global movement of labour film festivals, we build a platform for meetings and conversations about labour and labour conditions. We see watching film as a way to raise important issues and get new perspectives and therefore a good starting point to talk about important issues. Through the festival we want to help bring unions, its members and the public closer together and hope that will lead to a stronger labour movement. We want to re-evaluate the concept of labour and workers and broaden those who feel included in these words. At this festival, the opportunity for meetings and conversations are just as important as watching film.

At the first Nordic Labour Film Festival 2017 we had 450 visitors during two days, despite the first sunny weekend. We raised issues such as social security systems in change, migrants union struggles and culture as tools for change among others. NLFF is a recurring annual event in Malmö that will be spread over time.